In a passionate appeal for recognition of an often-misunderstood craft, Zoe Saldaña is urging James Cameron to create a comprehensive documentary about the making of the “Avatar” franchise—one that would finally illuminate the demanding artistry behind motion capture performance.
A Documentary to Set the Record Straight
Speaking with Beyond Noise, the Oscar-winning actor revealed that Cameron is “considering a documentary about the making” of the groundbreaking films, a project Saldaña believes is essential to help audiences understand why performance capture represents “the most empowering form of acting.”
“It gives us the credit, the ability to own 100 percent of our performance on screen,” Saldaña explained, distinguishing motion capture from traditional voice acting. “With animation, you might go into the studio for a few sessions; that’s as much as they’ll need you for the whole movie. You go into a studio, however you’re dressed, and you lend your voice, right? Performance capture means that ‘Avatar’ wouldn’t exist if Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, myself, and the entire cast didn’t get up and put those dots on our faces.”
Inside the Technology: More Than Just Dots on a Face
The physical commitment required extends far beyond simply wearing the technology. “We put on that little unitard with all those dots on it, and step into a volume—that’s what we call the set—that’s rigged on the ceiling, with all these cameras in measured positions,” she described. “They’re all pointing into this space that finds us, and feeds that information into the system that is Pandora.”
Years of Intensive Physical Training
For Saldaña, who portrays the fierce Na’vi warrior Neytiri across the franchise—including 2009’s “Avatar,” 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and the forthcoming “Avatar: Fire and Ash”—the preparation is nothing short of extraordinary. With Cameron planning two additional films beyond the upcoming third installment, the commitment spans decades.
“It takes an average of seven years between [each ‘Avatar’ film],” Saldaña noted. “From the archery, the martial arts, the free diving, the scuba diving—so that you can hold your breath under water for longer than five minutes—to the language [James] conceived out of thin air, to physically training with former gymnasts, circus performers, and acrobats so you can learn how to walk like an extraterrestrial human species… That’s all us, and a group of incredible stunt actors that make our characters feel bionic.”
The Academy’s Ongoing Oversight
This intensive process, Saldaña argues, deserves recognition from Hollywood’s most prestigious institutions. Yet motion capture performances have consistently been overlooked by the Academy Awards, despite acclaimed work from actors like Andy Serkis as Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” and Caesar in “Planet of the Apes.”
“Old habits die hard, and when you have old establishments, it’s really hard to bring forward change,” Saldaña told The Independent last year. “And I understand that, so I’m not bitter about it, but it is quite deflating when you give 120% of yourself into something. I mean, not winning is ok, not being nominated is ok, but when you’re overlooked and then minimized and completely disregarded…”
Cameron Defends His Star’s Performance
Cameron himself has become an outspoken advocate for Saldaña’s recognition. “I’ve worked with Academy Award-winning actors, and there’s nothing that Zoe’s doing that’s of a caliber less than that,” the visionary director told Variety. “But because in my film she’s playing a ‘CG character,’ it kind of doesn’t count in some way, which makes no sense to me whatsoever. She can go from regal to, in two nanoseconds, utterly feral. The woman is ferocious. She is a freaking lioness.”
As “Avatar: Fire and Ash” prepares to transport audiences back to Pandora when it opens December 19 from Disney and 20th Century Studios, the conversation around motion capture artistry continues to gain momentum. Perhaps Cameron’s proposed documentary will finally provide the platform these performers need to showcase the remarkable skill, dedication, and physical prowess their craft demands.
